Android 13’s new copy system reveals your passwords. Here’s how to stop it

Until Android 13’s October 2022 launch, the textual content you copied to your telephone’s clipboard was personal. You would possibly see a affirmation message for the motion, however that was it—and that system labored completely for login data from your password supervisor.

But apparently that habits wasn’t passable. Now while you seize a little bit of textual content, a bubble that shows the string pops up within the decrease left of the display…and all textual content is honest recreation. This contains passwords (yikes!).

What occurred? In Android 13, app builders should mark copied textual content as delicate to maintain it personal. Without that sign, the working system assumes that it’s plain textual content, match for the eyes to see (and edit, if you happen to faucet on the bubble). Some password managers have but to revise their cell apps to accommodate this transformation, which might undermine the safety you’re hoping to protect. 

Not everybody could have this difficulty—if you happen to’re on a non-stock model of Android (like on a Samsung machine), your telephone might behave in another way. But if you happen to do run into it, it could be aggravating, notably on Pixel telephones. Stock Android 13 doesn’t enable customers to disable this new characteristic, a transfer concurrently infuriating as it is perplexing.

Fortunately, you’re not caught with your passwords exhibiting everytime you copy one to be used. You have two choices to restore your safety and each are easy.

Option 1: Give your password supervisor app autofill permissions

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To allow this characteristic, open your Settings app, then seek for “autofill.” Select Autofill service, then faucet the present choice. Choose your password supervisor from your choices.

Now while you create or enter a password, the power to autofill from your password supervisor will pop up when within the related type subject.

Option 2: Update your password supervisor

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Don’t really feel comfy linking your password supervisor app to Android’s autofill characteristic? A more moderen model of your password supervisor might correctly mark your passwords as delicate information.

In the Google Play app, faucet your avatar icon within the higher proper of the display, then select Manage apps & machine. If an replace is on the market, it could be listed beneath the entry for Updates accessible. (If you don’t have any updates in any respect, the menu will say All apps up to date.)

If the app has no updates or the most recent replace doesn’t resolve this copying difficulty, test if the app developer has moved on to a separate model of the app. For instance, 1Password made its model 7 and model 8 two utterly totally different apps. Only the newer model retains your passwords personal when copied.

Should neither of those choices work, you have got two options. One is reconsidering autofill. The different is to change password managers. (Yep.)

Of course, this characteristic wouldn’t be a difficulty if all customers may simply flip it off. I personally get little utility out of it—if I would like to see or edit my textual content, I’m on a PC.

Author: Alaina Yee, Senior Editor